Chemical anchoring of aminobenzoate onto the surface of SnO2 nanoparticles for synthesis of polyaniline/SnO2 composite

•A method was proposed to synthesize tight structural PANI–AB–SnO2 composite.•Aggregates of SnO2 were decreased after anchoring of AB onto SnO2 surface.•The existence of AB had increased the interaction force between PANI and SnO2.•Electrochemical properties of PANI–AB–SnO2 were improved compared with PANI–SnO2.

In order to increase the conjunction between PANI and SnO2, an efficient method was proposed to synthesize polyaniline/aminobenzoate/tin dioxide composite (PANI–AB–SnO2) with tight junction structure via grafting PANI onto SnO2 nanoparticles modified with AB, in which AB was chemically anchored onto the surface of SnO2 nanoparticles. Characterization of structure and morphology of the composite indicated that COOH group of AB molecule could coordinate to Sn (IV) on the surface of SnO2 to form a bidentate bridging compound, and proved that the prepared composite existed stronger interaction force between PANI and SnO2 nanoparticles. Electrochemical property measurements showed that the composite had improved properties, and its specific capacitance was up to 259.5 F g−1 at a current density of 5 mA cm−2, ca. 47.8% higher than that of PANI–SnO2 (175.5 F g−1) synthesized in the similar condition. In addition, it also showed a good electrochemical stability.

Graphical abstractThe figure shows a reaction mechanism of PANI–AB–SnO2 composite and schematic illustration of formation of both composites. On the one hand, the COOH group of aminobenzoate (AB) molecule can coordinate to Sn (IV) on the surface of SnO2 to form a bidentate bridging structure. On the other hand, the NH2 group of AB can provide graft sites for PANI formation and combine with PANI through hydrogen bonds. As a result, PANI–AB–SnO2 composite with tight junction structure was synthesized on the basis of the mechanism. However, PANI in PANI–SnO2 composite exhibits free-cumulated and disorder structure.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide